The seaside site is framed by an existing natural stone wall that was incorporated into the design. The entryway ducks just under the house through a cutout in the wall and large skylights in the roof illuminate the pathway. The timber is covered in white plaster, which is possible only because temperatures never fall below zero and because this is a temporary dwelling that needs to be heated, and especially cooled, very quickly.

Hornung and Jacobi have provided a variety of natural cooling mechanisms that reduce the villa’s overall energy load. In addition to a mechanical opening in the roof that creates a chimney cooling effect, the evaporation of the home’s swimming pool also helps to control the microclimate. Triangular PVs supply all of the home’s energy. Finally, oriented towards the water, this lovely design is at once modern but environmentally aware.